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Bupropion: 7 things you should know

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on Nov 20, 2023.

1. How it works

2. Upsides

3. Downsides

If you are between the ages of 18 and 60, take no other medication or have no other medical conditions, side effects you are more likely to experience include:

Note: In general, seniors or children, people with certain medical conditions (such as liver or kidney problems, heart disease, diabetes, seizures) or people who take other medications are more at risk of developing a wider range of side effects. View complete list of side effects

4. Bottom Line

Bupropion may be used in the treatment of depression or as an aid to smoking cessation; however, side effects may include insomnia, neuropsychiatric adverse events, or seizures. It carries a black box warning because it may cause changes in behavior and increase the risk of suicidal thoughts.

5. Tips

6. Response and effectiveness

7. Interactions

Medicines that interact with bupropion may either decrease its effect, affect how long it works for, increase side effects, or have less of an effect when taken with bupropion. An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of the medications; however, sometimes it does. Speak to your doctor about how drug interactions should be managed.

Common medications that may interact with bupropion include:

Avoid drinking alcohol or taking illegal or recreational drugs while taking bupropion because it may increase the risk of neuropsychiatric side effects.

Medications that induce CYP2D6 such as dexamethasone or rifampin may reduce concentrations of bupropion and drugs that inhibit CYP2D6, such as amiodarone, celecoxib, or fluoxetine may increase concentrations of bupropion.

Note that this list is not all-inclusive and includes only common medications that may interact with bupropion. You should refer to the prescribing information for bupropion for a complete list of interactions.

References

Further information

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use bupropion only for the indication prescribed.

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

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